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I have a piano that we got at auction in 2003. I’m looking to sell it because we need to downsize. I’m in the process of learning more about the piano so I can market it properly. On the inside it says Howard C171, “scale design by Baldwin USA”, and serial number 42816. Under the keys it has B.W stamped. My husband thinks it is Japanese made (kawaii) but I don’t see that anywhere on the piano. When I look it up on the piano Atlas site by the serial number it says it’s very old. Is this truly a Baldwin Howard ... not made by Kawaii?

Please advise ...
Mary

If you read this thread, your piano is so close in serial number that it is likely the same age and manufacturer.

This is not a Kawai built Howard. Those stopped being made in about 1970. They clearly say Kawai inside.

I believe this would be from Samick.

I have a Howard 550 grand (5'10") from 1969 that was made by Kawai. It has the Kawai decal on the soundboard and the inside of the inner case, and the Kawai logo is embossed into the cast iron plate. Underneath the case it say "Made in Japan".

It is basically a Kawai KG3 with Howard on the fallboard; it is actually a very nice grand piano, although an older model.

I think the later Howards sold by Baldwin dealers were basically the same as the D. H. Baldwin pianos.

P.S. I gave the Howard/Kawai 550 to my granddaughter when she was 12 years old and taking piano lessons. She is now 16, and stopped taking piano lessons years ago, and my son has yet to came and get the Howard/Kawai grand, though he says they still want it. I still play it on occasion, and it plays and sounds great.

Rick

The later ones were built by Samick.

The Howard 550 was basically a Kawai 500/KG2, with some Baldwin changes.

Thanks, BDB. I mean to say my Howard 550 was the same as a Kawai KG2 and not KG3.

Rick

Thank you KawaiDon. Is there a way for me to tell for sure if it’s from Samick?

I have an old Baldwin Service Manual which lists the Howard C 171 scale grands as being built by Samick.

Not sure about how to determine if a piano is made by Samick, but it seems that you can always tell if the matching bench is made by Samick. They all look alike/similar in regards to the style of the padded vinyl covering on the bench. Easy to spot...